Scottish Executive

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal staff in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, below senior civil service grade, resigned or transferred to other departments within the civil service in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) the first two months of 2001, broken down by (i) grade and (ii) number of years of service and what reasons were given for such departures.

Colin Boyd QC: The numbers of legal staff below senior civil service level who resigned or transferred to other departments are shown in the table. The leavers represent a turnover of between 2% and 4% for this group of staff. It is not our policy to divulge personal details of members of staff.

  


Year 
  

Resignation 
  

Transfer 
  

Range of Length of Service 
  



1997 
  

1 Procurator Fiscal
6 Deputes 
  

1 Depute 
  

8 months to 5 years 
  



1998 
  

2 Procurators Fiscal
4 Deputes 
  

Nil 
  

1 year to 17 years 
  



1999 
  

10 Deputes 
  

1 Depute 
  

2 years to18 years 
  



2000 
  

6 Deputes 
  

1 Principal Depute
2 Deputes 
  

3 months to 10 years 
  



2001 
  

1 Depute 
  

Nil 
  

4 years

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total complement of legal staff in the Crown Office (CO) and Procurator Fiscal Service (PFS), below senior civil service grade, was in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) the first two months of 2001, categorised by (i) grade and (ii) number of years of service in the CO or PFS.

Colin Boyd QC: There is no fixed complement of staff. However, the legal staff below senior civil service level in post (full-time equivalent figures) at 1 February for each of the last five years is shown in the table.

  


Date 
  

Deputes 
  

Principal Deputes 
  

Senior and Senior Principal Deputes 
  

Procurators Fiscal 
  

Total 
  



01/02/97 
  

207.8 
  

n/a* 
  

12 
  

21 
  

240.8 
  



01/02/98 
  

151.6 
  

60.0 
  

11 
  

21 
  

243.6 
  



01/02/99 
  

153.9 
  

63.9 
  

10 
  

19 
  

246.8 
  



01/02/00 
  

178.1 
  

67.5 
  

10 
  

19 
  

274.6 
  



01/02/01 
  

189.7 
  

72.9 
  

12 
  

20 
  

294.6 
  



  * Grade introduced in April 1997. At that time 60 deputes were appointed to the new level.

  The number of years service per staff from 1997 to 2000 is not readily available. The current breakdown is shown in the answer to question S1W-13448.

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal staff employed in the Crown Office (CO) and Procurator Fiscal Service (PFS), excluding Crown Counsel but including senior civil service grades, have been seconded to work on the Lockerbie trial in each year since 1997 and how many are currently seconded, categorised in each case by (a) grade and (b) years of experience in the CO or PFS.

Colin Boyd QC: The numbers, grades and years of experience of staff seconded to the case during the relevant years are as shown in the table. The details for 2001 also show the details for those currently seconded, who since 1999 have constituted the core group of seconded legal staff. The additional staff seconded in 1999 and 2000 served for varying periods of time, but generally for shorter periods in 2000 than in 1999.

  





Grade of Seconded Staff 
  

Number of Staff 
  

Years of Experience 
  



1997 
  

Senior Civil Service 
  

1 
  

19 
  






Principal Depute 
  

2 
  

9 and 12 
  



1998 
  

Senior Civil Service 
  

1 
  

20 
  






Principal Depute 
  

2 
  

13 and 10 
  






Depute 
  

1 
  

4 
  



1999 
  

Senior Civil Service 
  

2 
  

21 and 22 
  






Principal Depute 
  

3 
  

11, 14 and 20 
  






Depute 
  

7 
  

1, 3 (x 4), 5 and 10 
  



2000 
  

Senior Civil Service 
  

3 
  

12, 22 and 23 
  






Principal Depute 
  

5 
  

4, 6, 11, 15 and 21 
  






Depute 
  

4 
  

2 and 4 (x3) 
  



2001 
  

Senior Civil Service 
  

2 
  

13 and 23 
  






Principal Depute 
  

2 
  

7 and 15 
  






Depute 
  

1 
  

5

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ad hoc legal staff and casual contract administrative staff, below senior civil service grade, have been employed in the Crown Office and the Procurator Fiscal Service, by region, in each year since 1997 and including the first two months of 2001, to cover (a) in the case of ad hoc legal staff, both court work and precognition work and (b) in the case of casual contract administrative staff, administration and precognition work.

Colin Boyd QC: The numbers of casual administrative staff employed by region in each year since 1997 are given in the table. The numbers of ad-hoc legal staff are not readily available.

  


Region 
  

Year 
  

No. of 
  

Range of contracts 
  



Grampian, Highlands and Islands 
  

1997 
  

3 
  

1 month to 9 months 
  






1998 
  

3 
  

7 months to 9 months 
  






1999 
  

5 
  

5 months to 8 months 
  






2000 
  

9 
  

2 months to 12 months 
  






2001 
  

6.7 
  

2 months 
  



Tayside, Central and Fife 
  

1997 
  

7 
  

1 month to 8 months 
  






1998 
  

9 
  

2 months to 11 months 
  


 

1999 
  

9.5 
  

2 months to 7 months 
  


 

2000 
  

8.6 
  

1 month to 8 months 
  


 

2001 
  

10.6 
  

3 weeks to 2 months 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

1997 
  

6 
  

6 months to 10 months 
  


 

1998 
  

8 
  

1 month to 6 months 
  


 

1999 
  

8 
  

3 months to 9 months 
  


 

2000 
  

8 
  

1 month to 12 months 
  


 

2001 
  

7.9 
  

2 months 
  



Glasgow 
  

1997 
  

15 
  

2 weeks to 12 months 
  


 

1998 
  

18 
  

1 month to 12 months 
  


 

1999 
  

15 
  

2 months to 12 months 
  


 

2000 
  

15 
  

1 month to 12 months 
  


 

2001 
  

6 
  

1 month to 2 months 
  



North Strathclyde 
  

1997 
  

2 
  

5 months 
  


 

1998 
  

0 
  

0 
  


 

1999 
  

3 
  

1 month to 8 months 
  


 

2000 
  

9 
  

2 months to 5 months 
  


 

2001 
  

6 
  

1 month to 2 months 
  



South Strathclyde 
  

1997 
  

5.5 
  

1 month to 12 months 
  


 

1998 
  

7 
  

2 months to 12 months 
  


 

1999 
  

7 
  

9 months to 11 months 
  


 

2000 
  

6.5 
  

2 weeks to 10 months 
  


 

2001 
  

4 
  

2 months 
  



Crown Office 
  

1997 
  

4 
  

2 months to 8 months 
  


 

1998 
  

3.5 
  

1 month to 10 months 
  


 

1999 
  

3.5 
  

1 month to 10 months 
  


 

2000 
  

5 
  

2 months to 12 months 
  


 

2001 
  

3 
  

2 months

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Office will publish the Extract of the Staff Survey 2000.

Colin Boyd QC: A staff survey has been held for a number of years within this department, under the direction and analysis of independent consultants. The last such internal exercise, agreed in partnership with the TUS, was held last summer. It served a number of purposes in support of staff pay and conditions, working environment, checking on pressures of work and stress issues, training and development systems including staff appraisal etc. The survey is used, in consultation with the TUS, to understand and improve various aspects of working conditions. It has been instrumental in the department’s re-accreditation in December 2000 for Investor in People status. An independent summary of the findings and an action plan was circulated to all staff and the TUS in December 2000. There are no plans to publish these documents outwith the department.

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal staff below senior civil service grade in (a) the Crown Office and (b) the Procurator Fiscal Service have (i) less than one year, (ii) between one and two years, (iii) between two and three years, (iv) between three and four years, (v) between four and five years, (vi) between six and eight years, (vii) between eight and 10 years and (viii) over 10 years of Fiscal experience and what the mode and mean salary is for legal staff below senior civil service grade in the Principal Procurator Fiscal depute and Procurator Fiscal depute grades.

Colin Boyd QC: The numbers of legal staff by length of service are shown in the table.

  


Length of service 
  

Crown Office 
  

PF Service 
  

Total 
  



Less than one year 
  

Nil 
  

38 
  

38 
  



1–2 years 
  

Nil 
  

36 
  

36 
  



2–3 years 
  

2 
  

18 
  

20 
  



3–4 years 
  

Nil 
  

5 
  

5 
  



4–5 years 
  

8 
  

18 
  

26 
  



6–8 years 
  

6 
  

22 
  

28 
  



8–10 years 
  

6 
  

19 
  

25 
  



Over 10 years 
  

21 
  

126 
  

147 
  



  The mode and mean salaries are as follows:

  


Salary type 
  

Depute
(£) 
  

Principal Depute
(£) 
  



Average 
  

28,936 
  

41,494 
  



Mode 
  

22,750 
  

34,700

Civil Servants

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal staff are currently employed in non-operational legal work in the Quality and Practice Review Unit, categorised by (a) grade and (b) number of years of service in the Crown Office or Procurator Fiscal Service.

Colin Boyd QC: Legal staff currently employed in the Quality and Practice Review Unit comprise:

  Head of Unit, who is a member of the Senior Civil Service, and two Principal Deputes. All have more than 10 years service.

Drug Courts

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the First Minister what the current position is regarding the Executive’s proposed drug court pilot scheme and its likely impact on the demand for treatment services.

Henry McLeish: Iain Gray, in his answer to question S1W-13514 on 21 February, announced the establishment of a working group for piloting a drug court in Glasgow. It is too early to comment on the implications for treatment services but we have provided an extra £10 million for treatment and £21 million for rehabilitation services across Scotland over the next three years.

Drug Misuse

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the latest additional funding package of £100 million to tackle drug misuse over the next three years will be spent on (a) treatment and aftercare, (b) prevention and (c) enforcement measures.

Iain Gray: Approximately 56% of the additional drugs funding will be spent on treatment and aftercare, 12% on prevention, and around 31% will span both categories. The remaining 1% will be spent on enforcement measures to reduce the level of drugs getting into prisons.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies have been born in each of the last three years with problems resulting from their mothers being prescribed benzodiazepines during pregnancy.

Susan Deacon: This information is not available centrally.

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what training and support it intends to give to GPs with regard to the prescription of methadone and other substitute drugs in order to address the variations in prescribing practice reported in the Effective Interventions Unit’s recent Consultation Workshop Report.

Susan Deacon: The UK guidelines on drug misuse, "Drug Misuse and Dependence Guidelines on Clinical Management", provide clear guidance on the prescription of methadone and other substitute drugs. Implementation of that guidance will help to address the variations in prescribing practice reported in the Effective Interventions Unit’s (EIU) recent consultation workshop report.

  In addition, we are working closely with Royal College of General Practitioners and others to look at what further training requires to be given to GPs to help them implement this guidance.

  The EIU will also be looking at the training and support needs of GPs and primary care teams as part of its detailed work, now under way, on effective shared care arrangements for drug users. There will be a focus on the development of local training strategies to meet local needs. The EIU will be consulting widely with practitioners over the next few months.

E-Commerce

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to identify any changes to the civil and criminal legal frameworks which are required to encourage the development of e-commerce in Scotland.

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to identify legislation which will require amendment as a consequence of the Electronic Communications Act 2000.

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to manage the process of amending legislation as a consequence of the Electronic Communications Act 2000.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is working to identify those changes to Scottish law, both civil and criminal, that may be necessary to encourage e-commerce in Scotland. This work involves consideration by the Law Society of Scotland.

  The Executive’s aim is to bring forward Orders under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 between 2001 and 2005. Priority legislative changes will be made later this year. This will include consultation of interested bodies. As well as assisting e-commerce generally, this will enable us to meet the e-Government Strategy target of making all government services available electronically by 2005.

  Some related changes have already taken place. The Scottish Executive takes part in international negotiations about the use of electronic commerce and in particular the way in which arrangements for jurisdiction and procedure of the courts can reflect the increased use of electronic media for concluding agreements and entering into obligations.

Elderly People

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to progress the aims of the Better Government for Older People programme in the light of the report from the Scottish pilot projects.

Malcolm Chisholm: The work of the Better Government for Older people pilots has been of great value. The Executive’s response to the BGOP recommendations in All our futures in Scotland  will help to inform future policy development. And we will continue to work with older people, the UK Government, local authorities and others to ensure older people’s voices are heard, their needs met and contributions valued. This will assist in delivering more responsive, integrated and high quality public services and in creating a better society for older people in Scotland.

Employment

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the First Minister what new initiatives the Scottish Executive plans to ensure that people are prepared for work.

Henry McLeish: On Monday we announced an extra £2.5 million to boost the delivery of information technology skills. This money will kick start the delivery of IT qualifications within our national adult training programme and fund a further 1,350 IT training places for unemployed people.

Employment

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the potential impact on employment in Scotland of a defence diversification policy and budget which provides increased assistance to companies diversifying as a result of Ministry of Defence savings in Scotland or other changes in the defence industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with HM Government on a wide range of issues, including Ministry of Defence activities in Scotland. The Scottish Executive is currently working with the Defence Diversification Agency to achieve the shared aim of encouraging the widest exploitation of defence derived technology within Scottish industry.

Employment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its priorities are in relation to workplace training in Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive places high priority on workplace training. A Smart Successful Scotland sets out our priority for meeting the demand for high quality in-work training, helping to ensure that every Scot is ready for tomorrow’s jobs.

  Priority is given to all 16 to 17-year-olds and to 18 to 24-year-olds who are pursuing a Modern Apprenticeship. From April 2001, the Training for Work programme will focus on tackling basic skills deficiencies, increasing employability through information and communication technology skills training and addressing local labour market needs.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been employed by local enterprise companies or other public bodies in connection with initiatives which provide or facilitate the provision of workplace training in each year since 1997 and whether it holds any estimate of the number of people working on such initiatives in the private sector.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The question of local enterprise companies is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask them to write to Mr MacAskill with the information requested. No such data is held for other public bodies. According to the labour force survey, in 1999 there were around 5,000 people employed as trainers in private sector organisations.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each (a) local enterprise company and (b) local authority has spent on initiatives promoting or facilitating the provision of workplace training in each year since 1997.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The data by local enterprise company is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask them to write to Mr MacAskill with the information requested. No such data for local authorities is held by the Executive.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value was of skillseekers’ training allowances paid in each year from 1997-98 to present, broken down by (i) local enterprise company area and (ii) skill area.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask them to write to Mr MacAskill with the information requested.

Enterprise

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has undertaken into the effects of an ageing workforce on the economy.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive’s recently published strategy for the Enterprise Network, entitled A Smart Successful Scotland , (Parliament Reference Centre, Bib. no. 10982) made clear that demographic change and its impact on the Scottish Economy is a matter which needs further study.

  The Scottish Executive has recently announced the establishment of a unit in Scottish Enterprise to be called Future Skills Scotland. The effects of an ageing workforce is an area in which Future Skills Scotland will have an interest in due course.

  Scottish Enterprise is also concerned with this issue and has recently published a research paper on the subject in the Fraser of Allander Quarterly Economic Commentary (Volume 26, Number 1, January 2001). A copy of this paper is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. no. 11552).

Enterprise

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has undertaken into the effect on labour markets in rural areas of an ageing workforce.

Ms Wendy Alexander: No formal studies have been undertaken in this area, but the Scottish Executive’s recently published strategy for the Enterprise Network, entitled A Smart Successful Scotland , (Parliament Reference Centre, Bib. no. 10982) made clear that demographic change and its impact on the Scottish economy is a matter which needs further study.

  The economic and social status of rural Scotland is routinely monitored. Over the period 1991-99 the rural population grew by 1.4% despite the stability of the overall Scottish population. Recent research has shown that, despite the perception that most rural migrants are of retirement age, a significant proportion of rural migrants are of working age, employed and with young children.

  I would also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13461.

Enterprise

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available to businesses to help them prepare for a general increase in age of the workforce.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise are at present actively examining the problem of population ageing together with business groups such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

  The CBI and the FSB have already been involved in the Foresight exercise in Scotland through the Ageing Population Panel which is co-ordinated by Scottish Enterprise. Over the next few months, Scottish Enterprise will be contacting these bodies to begin a more formalised dialogue on this subject. The outcome from these discussions is as yet unknown, but Scottish Enterprise will be encouraging these bodies to raise awareness with their members so that Scottish employers are encouraged to recruit older workers.

  Scottish Enterprise also hope to run a conference this summer to raise awareness of the issues surrounding population ageing with members of these organisations and other external partners.

Enterprise

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what figures it holds for Gross Domestic Product on a regional basis in 2000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Figures are not available for Gross Domestic Product on a regional basis for 2000. The latest figures held are for 1996. Figures for 1998 are scheduled for release by the Office for National Statistics in April 2001.

Freedom of Information

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its draft Freedom of Information Bill.

Mr Jim Wallace: I can today announce the publication of the Executive’s consultation paper Freedom of Information – Consultation on Draft Legislation  as the next stage in bringing forward a distinctive and effective Scottish freedom of information regime.

  The consultation period will run until 25 May and the Executive intends introducing a Bill to the Parliament later this year.

  At the heart of the draft Bill is a new legal right of access to information held by a wide range of Scottish public authorities, underpinned by a powerful, independent Scottish Information Commissioner.

  The draft Bill will be laid before Parliament and circulated for wide consultation. Copies will also be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. I hope there will be an opportunity for the Parliament to debate these proposals in early course.

General Practitioners

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all investigations, projects or working groups currently under way which are concerned with GP provision in rural areas, including the timescale for any such research and whether or not reports arising from the research have been or will be published.

Susan Deacon: The following investigations, projects and working groups are currently under way:

  Access to primary care

  A research project is currently being undertaken by the Scottish Consumer Council on behalf of the Executive. The research focuses on the difficulties which patients in Scotland may face in accessing primary care. It does not have an exclusive focus on remote areas, although this is one of the dimensions being examined. A final report is due this month.

  Remote and Rural GP Out of Hours Schemes

  A total of eight projects have been supported by the primary care development fund to improve access to GP services out of hours in remote and rural areas.

  Remote and Rural Areas Resource Initiative

  The Remote and Rural Areas Resource Initiative is funded by the Executive to support the development of innovative approaches to providing health care in remote and rural areas. A number of the projects it is currently sponsoring relate to the provision of primary care services.

Health

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the re-organisation of NHS acute services.

Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S10-02783 on 18 January 2001.

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to ensure that every person in Scotland has equal access to medical services.

Susan Deacon: Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change , published on 14 December 2000, sets out a wide range of measures to improve access to NHS services and to improve greater equity of access across Scotland.

Health Promotion

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in establishing a task force to develop a national physical activity strategy as promised in Towards a Healthier Scotland .

Malcolm Chisholm: Plans for the launch of the Physical Activity Task Force are now at an advanced stage and I expect to send invitations to potential task force members in the very near future. Meanwhile, we are making arrangements for an initial meeting to take place at the end of March.

Housing

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to regulate property management factors in Scotland.

Jackie Baillie: The Housing Bill will provide for the regulation of factoring services provided by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords. The Housing Improvement Task Force, set up to consider how the quality of housing stock can be improved, will also consider the powers available to compel owners to invest in their property and the arrangements in place for the management of flatted blocks in private ownership.

Housing

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the New Housing Partnership budget for 2000-01 has been spent.

Jackie Baillie: The New Housing Partnerships budget for 2000-01 amounts to £114.5 million. In addition, £25.3 million has been carried forward from last year. This reflects slippage in councils’ expenditure on approved projects, largely resulting from their commitment to full consultation with tenants. On the basis of indications from councils, it is expected that approximately £70 million will be spent in this financial year. The arrangements for carry forward of resources into next year will be announced in due course.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issued concerning the composition of the interim management committee of the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and whether any guidance will be issued regarding appointments to the board of the GHA in the event of housing stock transfer.

Ms Margaret Curran: Guidance was issued in the framework document Better Homes, Stronger Communities, published jointly by the Executive and Glasgow City Council in April 2000. Appointments to the board of the GHA in the event of housing stock transfer will be made in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of that organisation.

Income

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average earnings were per adult in each region in 2000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Reliable figures on average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees on adult rates are only available for 24 of the 32 unitary authorities in Scotland. These figures are shown in the following table. The data relate to April 2000.

  


Unitary Authority 
  

Average gross weekly earnings (£) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

445.4 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

371.2 
  



Angus 
  

342.1 
  



Argyll & Bute 
  

378.8 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

326.3 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

330.4 
  



Dundee City 
  

362.2 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

365.1 
  



East Lothian 
  

361.9 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

404.6 
  



Falkirk 
  

379.2 
  



Fife 
  

344.8 
  



Glasgow City 
  

391.8 
  



Highland 
  

351.7 
  



Inverclyde 
  

356.9 
  



Midlothian 
  

375.6 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

346.7 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

373.1 
  



Perth & Kinross 
  

332.8 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

396.3 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

386.2 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

385.4 
  



Stirling 
  

337.5 
  



West Lothian 
  

384.0 
  



Scotland 
  

379.8 
  



  Source: New Earnings Survey 2000, Office for National Statistics.

  More details can be found in the Office for National Statistics publication New Earnings Survey 2000 (parts A and E). This is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Income

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the minimum annual income per household is which is considered to be above the poverty line.

Jackie Baillie: There are a range of indicators which can be used to measure poverty, of which low income is only one.

  The Statistical Programme Committee of the European Union recommend using a range of different thresholds for the analysis of low income based on various percentages of mean (50%, 60%) and median (50%, 60%, 70%) equivalised income. The 60% median threshold has been recommended for use as the headline indicator. Data for these thresholds are set out in the Social Justice Annual Report.

  The table illustrates the level of the low income threshold for various types of households in 1998-99 for 60% median GB net equivalised income. Equivalisation adjusts income according to household size and composition to reflect the extent to which households of different sizes require a different level of income to achieve the same standard of living. The actual level of the low income threshold is therefore different depending on the household composition.

  Low Income Threshold (60% median GB Net Income), 1998-99

  


Couples 
  

Before Housing Costs
(£ annual) 
  

After Housing Costs
(£ annual) 
  



No children 
  

8,447 
  

7,248 
  



1 child age 5 
  

10,220 
  

8,760 
  



2 children ages 5 and 11 
  

12,358 
  

10,689 
  



2 children age 11 
  

12,671 
  

11,054 
  



3 children ages 5,11 and 16 
  

15,382 
  

13,401 
  



Single people 
  
 
 



No children 
  

5,162 
  

4,015 
  



1 child age 5 
  

6,935 
  

5,527 
  



2 children ages 5 and 11 
  

9,073 
  

7,404 
  



2 children age 11 
  

9,386 
  

7,769 
  



3 children ages 5, 11 and16 
  

12,097 
  

10,168 
  



  Source: DSS Households Below Average Income.

  Notes:

  1. Estimates are based on sample counts, and are therefore subject to sampling variability.

  2. Income is net of: income tax payments, national insurance contributions, domestic rates/council tax, contributions to occupational pension schemes, all maintenance and child support payments, and parental contributions to students living away from home.

Justice

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to establish an independent body to deal with complaints against solicitors as recommended in the January 1999 report of the Scottish Consumer Council.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has no such plans at present.

Justice

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the remit of the working group on a replacement for poindings and warrant sales.

Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-3002 today.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Office or Procurator Fiscal Service will publish a list of the categories under which cases are marked and recorded as "no proceedings".

Colin Boyd QC: The statement made by Lord Mackay of Drumadoon to the Scottish Grand Committee and reported at 1996 SLT (News) 51 remains accurate. For statistical purposes, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service computer system recognises the following categories:

  Insufficient admissible evidence

  Triviality

  Civil remedy more appropriate

  Mitigating circumstances

  Delay: Police/other reporting agency

  Delay: Procurator Fiscal

  Lack of court resources

  PF staff shortage

  Time-barred

  Not a crime

  No jurisdiction

  Age of offence

  Other specified reasons

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the functions and terms of reference are of the Quality and Practice Review Unit of the Crown Office/Procurator Fiscal Service; what arrangements have been made to ensure its independence and impartiality, and to whom it is accountable.

Colin Boyd QC: The functions and remit of the Quality and Practice Review Unit are described in the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service Annual Report 1999-2000, which was circulated to all members of the Scottish Parliament. The Quality and Practice Review Unit was established to enable the department to complete a rolling programme of reviews of individual Offices or Crown Office Units (Office Reviews) and cross-departmental reviews of particular topics or areas of work (Thematic Reviews). The overall purpose of the Quality and Practice Review Unit is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of work of the department and to promote and maintain public confidence in its work.

  The remit of the Quality and Practice Review Unit is to report to the Crown Agent on the quality of professional practice in the department including decisions in cases, outcomes, and processes and other aspects of performance; to identify and promote good practice; to assist with the development of performance indicators, and, where approved by the Crown Agent, to work with other agencies to improve the quality of service and the efficiency and effectiveness of the wider criminal justice system.

  The Quality and Practice Review Unit is directly accountable to the Crown Agent and acts independently of the management regime within the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service. The Quality and Practice Review Unit has the authority of the Lord Advocate and Crown Agent to access all papers, files and computer records and to interview any member of staff of the department and Crown Counsel in connection with their work, subject to the limits of the remit (general or specific) for that review.

Justice

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were (a) murdered and (b) injured in each of the last five years in incidents involving offensive weapons with a blade or which are sharply pointed.

Mr Jim Wallace: The number of victims of homicide where a sharp instrument was the main method of killing was 66 in 1999, 44 in 1998, 35 in 1997 and 58 in 1996. Figures are not yet available for 2000. Further detail on these and other homicides can be found in the statistical bulletin, Homicide in Scotland 1998, and the statistics release, Homicide in Scotland 1999 , both of which are available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  Figures on the type of weapons used in assaults are not collected centrally, apart from those which involve firearms.

Justice

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under the Knives Act 1997 in each year since it came into force; how many convictions resulted from such prosecutions, and how many convicted offenders were (a) fined and (b) imprisoned.

Mr Jim Wallace: Figures on the number of prosecutions and convictions for offences under this Act cannot, from the information held centrally, be separately identified from those for other trading offences in the Scottish Executive Justice Department classification of crimes and offences.

Justice

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 in each of the last five years; how many convictions resulted from such prosecutions, and how many convicted offenders were (a) fined and (b) imprisoned.

Mr Jim Wallace: Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 was repealed on 1 April 1996 and replaced by section 47 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. The available information is given in the table.

  Persons proceeded against in Scottish courts where the main crime was under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 or section 47(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995

  


Statute and outcome 
  

Year 
  



1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



Section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 
  1953 
  



Persons proceeded against 
  

1,399 
  

1,288 
  

305 
  

43 
  

7 
  



Persons with a charge proved 
  

1,001 
  

911 
  

224 
  

35 
  

7 
  



Of which received: 
  


















 Custodial sentence 
  

200 
  

176 
  

45 
  

5 
  

2 
  



 Fine 
  

465 
  

385 
  

66 
  

6 
  

3 
  



 Other sentence 
  

336 
  

350 
  

113 
  

24 
  

2 
  



Section 47 (1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) 
  (Scotland) Act 1995 
  



Persons proceeded against 
  

- 
  

297 
  

1,266 
  

1,420 
  

1,443 
  



Persons with a charge proved 
  

- 
  

227 
  

901 
  

1,051 
  

1,065 
  



Of which received: 
  


















 Custodial sentence 
  

- 
  

69 
  

168 
  

202 
  

212 
  



 Fine 
  

- 
  

84 
  

450 
  

433 
  

420 
  



 Other sentence 
  

- 
  

74 
  

283 
  

416 
  

433

Justice

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under section 139 or 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in each of the last five years; how many convictions resulted from such prosecutions, and how many convicted offenders were (a) fined and (b) imprisoned.

Mr Jim Wallace: Sections 139 and 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 only apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The equivalent Scottish legislation is section 1 of the Carrying of Knives etc. (Scotland) Act 1993 which was repealed on 1 April 1996 and replaced by section 49(1) and 49A of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995. The available information is given the table.

  Persons proceeded against in Scottish courts where the main offence was under section 1 of the Carrying of Knives etc. Act 1993 or sections 49(1) and 49A of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (S) Act 1995

  


Statue and outcome 
  

Year 
  



1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  



Section 1 of the Carrying of Knives (S) 
  Act 1993 
  



Persons proceeded against 
  

956 
  

979 
  

249 
  

15 
  

3 
  



Persons with a charge proved 
  

780 
  

784 
  

214 
  

13 
  

3 
  



Of which received: 
  


















 Custodial sentence 
  

251 
  

231 
  

54 
  

4 
  

1 
  



 Fine 
  

270 
  

277 
  

69 
  

3 
  

2 
  



 Other sentence 
  

259 
  

276 
  

91 
  

6 
  

- 
  



Section 49(1) and 49A of the Criminal Law 
  (Consolidation) (S) Act 1995 
  



Persons proceeded against 
  

- 
  

381 
  

1,062 
  

1,186 
  

1,288 
  



Persons with a charge proved 
  

- 
  

317 
  

855 
  

963 
  

1,005 
  



Of which received: 
  

- 
  















 Custodial sentence 
  

- 
  

129 
  

276 
  

294 
  

295 
  



 Fine 
  

- 
  

89 
  

266 
  

315 
  

318 
  



 Other sentence 
  

- 
  

99 
  

313 
  

354 
  

392

Justice

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 for selling knives and other articles with a blade or point to persons under 16 in each of the last five years; how many convictions resulted from such prosecutions, and how many convicted offenders were (a) fined and (b) imprisoned.

Mr Jim Wallace: Figures on the number of prosecutions and convictions for the relevant offences under this Act cannot, from the information held centrally, be separately identified from those for other trading offences in the Scottish Executive Justice Department classification of crimes and offences.

Learning Disabilities

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of the recommendations contained in The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities is proceeding according to schedule.

Malcolm Chisholm: Yes. We have invited bids to operate new Scottish Centre for Learning Disabilities; we have announced a Change Fund of £36 million over three years; we are considering proposals from the National Autistic Society and the Scottish Society for Scotland to take forward establishment of a national service network for those with an autistic spectrum disorder, and the first Partnership in Practice agreements are to be submitted to the Executive by June this year.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the mental health frameworks in place in each health board area and the extent to which managers have regard to the framework in their area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Framework for Mental Health Services in Scotland sets a template by which the visiting Mental Health and Well Being Support Group assess and advise both locally and to the Scottish Executive on local agency progress. Senior managers of the health boards, NHS Trusts and the local authorities are involved in this process. The outcome reports of the visiting group are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and on the web at www.show.scot.nhs.uk/mhwbsg. Mental health services will also be included in the new comprehensive performance management framework for NHSScotland as announced in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change .

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre the visit reports of the Mental Health and Well Being Support Group for each health board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The outcome reports from the visits of the Mental Health and Well Being Support Group have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. Future reports will also be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. The reports and wider information on the work of the support group are available on website www.show.scot.nhs.uk/mhwbsg.

Museums

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much grant has been given to each of Scotland’s industrial museums in financial years (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-01.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The grants made by The Scottish Executive to industrial museums are set out in the following table:

  


Museum 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  



Scottish Maritime Museum 
  

£55,000
help with running costs 
  

£15,000
help with consultancy 
  

£20,000
help with running costs 
  



Scottish Mining Museum 
  
 

£85,000
help with running costs
£5,000
help with consultancy 
  

£90,000
help with running costs
£45,000
help with running costs 
  



Scottish Fisheries Museum 
  
 
 

£30,000
help with running costs

New Opportunities Fund

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what feedback has been received from participants in the current round of New Opportunities Fund ICT training for teachers and whether it will make public any general findings from end-of-course questionnaires or other forms of feedback.

Mr Jack McConnell: The main source of feedback from individual teachers and school librarians will be a recently established online evaluation questionnaire. Summary tables of information from completed questionnaires are available on the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) website at:

  http://devnofeval.ngfl.gov.uk/stats/scotland.php3.

Pig Industry

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) of producing the adverts promoting pig meat in respect of which complaints have been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority and whether any minister has been in touch with the MLC in connection with this initiative.

Ross Finnie: The cost of producing the adverts was £115,542 and the media costs to place the adverts were £735,000. This was part of a £4.6 million three-stage pig meat advertising campaign run by the MLC.

  This MLC Pig Meat advertising campaign was not run in Scotland. The Scottish Executive was not involved in the campaign, did not contribute to it and no Scottish minister had been in contact with the MLC about this initiative. A separate £600,000 MLC-funded Scottish campaign promoting pork as a "lean and healthy" product was run by Quality Meat Scotland.

Pre-School Education

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence exists on the importance of early years education.

Nicol Stephen: A wide range of international research evidence shows that high quality pre-school provision can benefit children not only in their early school learning but also in later life, contributing significantly to wider social and economic gains.

Public Appointments

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11809 by Angus MacKay on 22 January 2001, when it expects to make an announcement on new independent assessors to oversee the public appointments system.

Angus MacKay: Following consideration of the nominations put forward by the main parties represented in Parliament and by the Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee, I am pleased to announce that eight new Independent Assessors have been appointed for a period of one year. Brief details of the individuals concerned are as follows:

  


Maire Whitehead 
  

Primary School Head Teacher, Glasgow 
  



Anne MacLean 
  

Community Councillor, Chair of Albyn Housing Association, 
  Grantown-on-Spey 
  



Maureen Watt 
  

Former member of the McIntosh and Kerley Committees, Banchory 
  



Marcia Campbell 
  

General Manager, Standard Life, Edinburgh 
  



Lesley Quirk 
  

Business & Management Development Consultant, Aberfoyle 
  



Selma Rahman 
  

Director of Fife Racial Equality Council, Edinburgh 
  



Irene Kitson 
  

Ex-EIS Official, Edinburgh 
  



Rev Eric Cramb 
  

Head of the Industrial Mission of Churches in Scotland, 
  Dundee

Rural Affairs

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish Enterprise staff have (a) expertise in rural development issues and (b) responsibilities including the implementation of Scottish Enterprise’s commitment to rural communities.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Ms McGugan.

Rural Affairs

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the study into supporting and developing rural communities following the disbandment of the Rural Forum will be published.

Ross Finnie: The Executive, together with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Homes and COSLA, has commissioned EKOS Limited to investigate the mechanisms which exist or are required to support rural communities. I understand that the final report is expected to be received by the commissioning bodies in March, and they will make a decision on publication thereafter.

Rural Affairs

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why it stated that the Minister for Rural Development attended a meeting of the Council of Ministers on 20 October 1999 when that meeting did not take place and what the explanation is for this discrepancy.

Mr Jack McConnell: An Agriculture Council was scheduled for that week and it was thought that Mr Finnie would attend. The meeting was cancelled but because of an administrative oversight the information which had been entered on the department’s database was not amended. Steps have now been taken to prevent similar errors occurring in the future. Information on ministerial attendance at EU meetings provided to the Parliament’s Reference Centre has been amended.

Scotland Act

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the impact of section 57(2) of the Scotland Act on devolved matters.

Mr Tom McCabe: We are in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of issues.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of plans to create a second diet of examinations each year and whether these plans have been affected by the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s problems in processing the results of the single diet of exams in academic session 1999-2000.

Mr Jack McConnell: I understand from the Scottish Qualifications Authority that the winter diet in 2001-02 will take place as intended.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Scheme

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12954 by Sarah Boyack on 14 February 2001, whether it will arrange for immediate interim payments to be made to members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes.

Sarah Boyack: No payments can be made to members of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes before the Scottish Transport Group is wound up.

Smoking

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the availability of sweets in the form of cigarettes encourages children and young people to take up smoking; if so, what plans it has to address this problem, and whether it has any power to restrict the import of such items into Scotland or otherwise limit the availability on health grounds.

Susan Deacon: There is some evidence to suggest that children who have used sweets in the form of cigarettes are more likely to smoke. The Scottish Executive is concerned about anything which encourages children to smoke, but has no power to ban or otherwise restrict the sale of these products in Scotland. However, we will continue to do all we can to ensure that children are given the facts about the dangers of taking up smoking and to encourage adults to set a good example.

Telecommunications

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers have met with the Office of Telecommunications (OFTEL) since July 1999 to discuss developments in digital technologies and communications; who attended any such meetings; what matters were discussed, and specifically whether the establishment of an OFTEL office in Scotland to oversee and monitor such developments was discussed.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Telecommunications regulation is reserved. The Scottish Executive holds discussions with UK Departments and other organisations, including OFTEL, as necessary.

Telecommunications

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on telecommunications infrastructure in each year since 1997; what the projected expenditure is for each year to 2003, and whether it will itemise this expenditure, giving timescales for when this money was or will be spent.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Investment in telecommunications infrastructure is largely a matter for the private sector. However, European funds have been allocated for this purpose in the Highlands & Islands and a broad range of public sector organisations, including the Executive, invest in infrastructure where this is necessary for their own use.

Telecommunications

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the current capacity and capability of international telecommunication connections to Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scotland’s international telecoms connectivity is via Telehouse in London’s Docklands which is the focus of most of the UK’s international telecoms connectivity.

  Research carried out for Scottish Enterprise last year on Scotland’s telecoms infrastructure advised that Scotland is served by a number of suppliers and that capacity on their backbone networks is not currently an issue.

  Scottish Enterprise is conducting further research into the wholesale market and international connectivity. The report is expected to be complete later in the year.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to secure the future of Aberdeen’s tourist information centre.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is a matter for Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board and its funding partners to decide.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the findings of the PricewaterhouseCoopers review of the Scottish Tourist Board and what the timescale is for this work.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Implementation of the findings of the Management Review is primarily for visitscotland. I will ask the Interim Chief Executive to write to you.

Water Charges

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations in the Stirling district will lose their relief from water and sewerage charges in the next five years.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This is a matter for the East of Scotland Water Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.